pro user MCH4A Manual Del Usuario página 5

MAINTENANCE AND CARE
It is essential to keep your battery regularly charged throughout the year, especially during the winter
months. In the winter the effectiveness of your car battery is reduced by the cold. Oil is thick. Engines
are difficult to start and the heater, windscreen wipers and lights are all draining power. It is at this time
that batteries have to be at peak power. If your battery is not regularly maintained and kept fully
charged, it can cause problems and a possible breakdown.
Listed are some helpful hints on how to keep your battery healthy in conjunction with your Battery
Charger.
Faulty Cells
Batteries are usually made with six cells. One of these cells can deteriorate or get damaged. If, after
several hours charging your battery is still flat, you should test the battery. Take hydrometer readings
from each cell in the battery. If one reading is lower than the others, this could indicate a faulty cell. If
necessary, get an Auto-Electrician to check your battery. One faulty cell is enough to ruin your battery.
It is pointless to continue using it and you would be better getting a new one.
Care
Sometimes the battery may appear flat, but this could simply be dirty or loose connections on your
battery terminals. It is important to maintain the leads on a regular basis. Do this by removing the
leads from the battery, clean the inside of each connector and terminal posts on the battery, smear the
terminal posts and connectors with Vaseline, refit in there correct positions and tighten firmly.
It is essential to keep the electrolyte level above the plates.
Note, however, that you should not overfill it, as the electrolyte is strongly acidic. When topping up do
not use tap water. Always use distilled or de-ionized water. It is important to keep the acid level up. If
necessary have it checked by your garage.
Checking the condition of your battery
Using a hydrometer, which can be purchased, from most motor accessory stores, you can check the
specific gravity of the electrolyte in each cell. The hydrometer is use to suck up a quantity of fluid from
the cell. The weighted float inside the hydrometer will register the condition of that cell. Put the fluid
back into the cell after testing, taking care not to splash the fluid about.
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